WORLD Superbike champion Carl Fogarty has paid tribute to the phenomenal staying power of TT legend Joey Dunlop.

The loveable Irishman this week chalked up race wins number 24 and 25 of his TT career at the incredible age of 48.

And Blackburn bike-king Foggy admits he has nothing but respect for his remarkable achievements.

"To still be racing at any level at that age is incredible," said Fogarty.

"But doing it at that age and winning on the most dangerous circuit in the world deserves as much respect as you can give a person.

"He's obviously got a good machine -- there's no doubt about that.

"But, at the same time, you've still got to ride it.

"And the amazing thing is he's never really done any training.

"He's just your average guy from down the road who runs a pub. who will help anyone out."

"He's done trips to Rowanda in vans and all sorts of stuff.

"And he's just one of those people you cannot help but get on with."

Yet, despite his obvious respect for Dunlop, Foggy insists the Isle of Mann TT is not as tough as it was when he used to compete.

"The TT has changed a lot since I used to enter it," said Foggy. "They say that I was the last person to go there as a short circuit world champion competitor.

"It lost it's World title status finally in 1989 when I last won it.

"Before then, a lot of people used to go there because it was a World Championship round.

"Now it's just the nostalgia of the Isle of Mann situation which attracts people.

"Nobody goes there any more.

"All the young British riders go straight into the British championships and then maybe onto Superbikes.

"The riders that ride there now are basically just people who like riding bikes.

"They are not the same riders that ride on the short circuits.

"They are aggressive, wheel-sliding, crazy motorcycle racers."

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